Legislature passes bill that raises the age of medical consent from 14 to 16.

May 14, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Legislature passed legislation to raise the age of medical consent from 14 years old to 16.

Senate Bill 101 (SB 101) was sponsored by State Senator Larry Stutts (R-Sheffield). It was carried in the House by State Representative Susan Dubose (R-Greystone).

The House had passed an amended version of SB101 by a vote of 85 to 0 on May 7. On Wednesday, Sen. Stutts asked the Senate to concur with that House version. The motion to concur passed the Senate 28 to 0.

SB101 would require parental consent for children under age 16 to receive medical, dental, and mental health services. It also prohibits health care providers and government agencies such as schools from denying a parent or guardian's request access a child's healthcare records.

The bill establishes in state law, "That it is the fundamental right of a parent to make decisions concerning the health care of his or her child."

The original version of SB101 would have set the age of medical consent from 14 to 18. The bill was weakened in the Senate with the change to 16.

"Fourteen-year-olds' brains are not fully formed. We don't let 14-year-olds get a tattoo or vote," said Rep. DuBose during the House floor debate. "We want parents engaged in the process."

The House Health Committee further weakened the bill with a substitute version to allow children to receive emergency mental health treatment without their parent's consent.

The weakened House version allows minors under 16 who are pregnant to make their own medical decisions. Minors under 16 can also consent to services related to sexually transmitted diseases and alcohol or drug misuse. Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals can also provide "emergency services" without parental consent.

Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) added an amendment on the House floor that requires parental consent for individual counseling. The amendment was adopted by the House in an 87 to 0 vote.

The bill goes to the Governor for her consideration. Wednesday was the last day of the 2025 Alabama regular legislative session.